Last week an article appeared in the Daily Illini (a campus newspaper I don't usually read, but a friend showed me the article) discussing various reasons why people might be running the marathon. It prompted me to ponder my motives for running the marathon. Here they are.
When I was about a year old, my grandma Richards was diagnosed with diabetes. Instead of feeling like she was a victim, she took control and learned how to control her ailment. I remember her swimming and walking regularly in an effort to control her weight and improve her health. I am especially fond of memories of day long family activities held at a church. She would walk laps around the halls of the church with her cane to make sure that she got her walk in for the day. When I lost 30 pounds while serving my mission, she encouraged me to keep the weight off with regular exercise.
Brittney did the team marathon. She ran her 7 miles in 58 minutes, the fastest she had ever run! I'm so proud of her. She told me I'm her hero. I appreciate all her love, support and encouragement. It seems very symbolic that I ran a marathon the same year I plan to graduate with my PhD and finish school. 23 years of school and 26 miles. There is a little more enduring to the end to go before the PhD is complete. If I can finish a marathon, then I can finish a PhD.
The final reason I ran the marathon is probably the main one. I would never have ran the marathon without a running buddy. I guess the saying "misery loves company" is true. Jason and I endured some grueling training, but enjoyed the triumph of finishing the race. Celebrating at "The Beef House" was great Saturday evening. It was good to consume the protein and carbohydrates we needed to refuel our bodies. (Incidently, we discussed marathon runners in my regulation of metabolism class on Friday, the day before we ran.) Our friends the Robisons came from Iowa for the race and spent the night with us. It was fun to see them, though we didn't get to play games because we had to go to bed to get our rest for the marathon. 
Many of my ancestors walked from Illinois to Utah. Their examples of persisting in doing hard things, moving even when your body cried out to stop have been a blessing in my life and encouraged me as I passed the early twenties mile markers of the marathon. When the 150th anniversary of the pioneers arriving in Utah occured, as the story was told of those who walked to Utah, it was said they had "Faith in every footstep". Many runners in the marathon had "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" on their t-shirts. Christ strengthened my ancestors as they crossed the plains and I wore my "Faith in every footstep" t-shirt as I ran the marathon.
When I was about a year old, my grandma Richards was diagnosed with diabetes. Instead of feeling like she was a victim, she took control and learned how to control her ailment. I remember her swimming and walking regularly in an effort to control her weight and improve her health. I am especially fond of memories of day long family activities held at a church. She would walk laps around the halls of the church with her cane to make sure that she got her walk in for the day. When I lost 30 pounds while serving my mission, she encouraged me to keep the weight off with regular exercise. Brittney did the team marathon. She ran her 7 miles in 58 minutes, the fastest she had ever run! I'm so proud of her. She told me I'm her hero. I appreciate all her love, support and encouragement. It seems very symbolic that I ran a marathon the same year I plan to graduate with my PhD and finish school. 23 years of school and 26 miles. There is a little more enduring to the end to go before the PhD is complete. If I can finish a marathon, then I can finish a PhD.I hope to be able to contact my 9th grade gym teacher, Coach Downs and tell him I ran the marathon. He would be impressed that my fastest 12 minute mile then, is now a 7:50 mile. He would also be impressed that where I used to not be able to run a full mile, I was able to keep running for the first 16 miles and that I finished the marathon in just under 5 hours.
The final reason I ran the marathon is probably the main one. I would never have ran the marathon without a running buddy. I guess the saying "misery loves company" is true. Jason and I endured some grueling training, but enjoyed the triumph of finishing the race. Celebrating at "The Beef House" was great Saturday evening. It was good to consume the protein and carbohydrates we needed to refuel our bodies. (Incidently, we discussed marathon runners in my regulation of metabolism class on Friday, the day before we ran.) Our friends the Robisons came from Iowa for the race and spent the night with us. It was fun to see them, though we didn't get to play games because we had to go to bed to get our rest for the marathon.
5 comments:
Way to go buddy! It's crazy to think back on the last four years leading up to this race. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to go for that first morning run. After the last marathon I did, I never planned on doing another one and without your motivation to get out of bed in the mornings, I don't believe I would have even made it up to thirteen miles.
Your Grandma would be proud!
It was great to see you guys too. I am so proud of both of you! A marathon is a great accomplishment and Brittney way to run your fastest. You guys both did great. Good luck with the rest of the semester.
Congratulations to both of you on an awesome race day! Bruce, I enjoyed reading your reasons for running the marathon. It was fun to get to do a little bit of the race with each of you :)
Congratulations Bruce! You are amazing.
WAY TO GO! I am amazed and want to follow those footsteps one day....before I die! Again...congrats, my friend!
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